Barcelona might have beaten Real Madrid on the pitch in La Liga last season, but Los Blancos have just gotten one over their bitter rivals in the transfer window.
The two Spanish giants were locked in a transfer battle for one of the most highly-rated young midfielders. That player is Arda Güler, the Fenerbahce wonderkid who has drawn comparisons with Mesut Ozil and Lionel Messi due to his outstanding creativity, exquisite tight-space dribbling, and magical left foot.
The 18-year-old had been linked with an array of clubs, including Arsenal, Newcastle, Benfica, and AC Milan. However, it ultimately came down to Barcelona or Real Madrid, and according to the Athletic, Los Blancos have won this crucial battle.
While a deal has not yet been agreed with Fenerbahce, the biggest hurdle has been settled. Güler has decided on a Santiago Bernabeu move over a Camp Nou switch, which is a huge blow to the Catalan giants. An agreement with the player's Turkish employers shouldn't be complicated and once that is wrapped up, the midfielder will join Ancelotti's team for the pre-season.
Arda has a modest $19M release clause, which Fenerbahce want triggered. However, the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners could end up paying more than that in order to get the player without complications, with the Turkish heavyweights even securing a 20 percent sell-on clause.
Güler is just the latest name in a growing list of young and talented midfielders to join Real Madrid. After relying on the Modric-Kroos-Casemiro spine for years, Florentino Perez has done wonders to inject youth into his midfield, signing the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and most recently Jude Bellingham.
And with Brazilian wonderkid Endrick, who is a striker, set to arrive at the Bernabeu in July 2024, Los Merengues could have a star-studded squad of some of the best young players in the world. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what Perez and Co. do in the transfer window between now and deadline day as the need to replace the departed Karim Benzema lingers.
